10 Facts about Kaaba

Let’s talk facts about Kaaba on this article. The Kaaba is one of the world’s most famous historical sites. Its cubic shape and unique pattern makes it a world-wide famous piece of architecture. Being the center of the Islamic religion, it attracts millions of Muslims each year and has thus become one of the most busiest places on earth. Here are 10 facts about Kaaba to get you started with.

Facts about Kaaba 1: It wasn’t always identical to Islam

Far before becoming Islam’s most iconic site, the Kaaba used to be the place of worship for various Bedouin tribes who made pilgrimages to Mecca every lunar year. It was only after the efforts of Prophet Muhammad that the Kaaba transformed into a pilgrimage site for Muslims, replacing the worshiping of pagan Gods with one single God, Allah.

Facts about Kaaba 2: It attracts almost 2 million people annually

As Islam’s holiest shrine, it is not surprising that the Kaaba is capable of attracting almost 2 million pilgrims from all over the world every year, making it one of most celebrated sites on the face of the planet.

Kaaba in 1880

Facts about Kaaba 3: The Kaaba’s veil has its own terminology

The elegant black-and-gold piece of material is almost instantly recognizable world-wide, and it’s called the kiswa.

Facts about Kaaba 4: More than a billion people face towards it everyday

The Kaaba functions as the qibla, or the direction in which Muslims pray towards 5 five times a day. More than 1.6 billion Muslims face the Kaaba from all over the world.

Kaaba during hajj

Facts about Kaaba 5: They keys to the Kaaba are kept by a specific tribe

The ancient Banī Shayba tribe in Saudi Arabia holds the keys to the inside of Kaaba, and twice a year they invite visitors to attend the “Kaaba cleaning ceremony” in which they all work together to clean and polish the interior of the Kaaba.

Facts about Kaaba 6: Pilgrimage to the Kaaba is a duty for all Muslims

Not only is it a duty, but it is one of Islam’s five primary “pillars”. Financially capable and able-bodied Muslims, regardless of where they are in the world, are expected to visit the Kaaba during the Hajj month at least once in their lifetime (as long as they can afford it).

Kaaba in 1907

Facts about Kaaba 7: It has been renovated several times

Being an ancient historical site dating back to thousands of years ago, it comes to no surprise that the Kaaba has undergone several renovations to preserve it. The last significant renovation was back in 1950 which was taken to accommodate the forever increasing number of pilgrimages every year.

Facts about Kaaba 8: The inside is filled with decoration

For the past few years there have been several viral videos and photos going around the internet which have shown the interior of the Kaaba. It is now known that the inside of Kaaba is filled with ancient glass ornaments and gold-decorated pillars.

Kaaba in Mecca 1850

Facts about Kaaba 9: A meteorite is built into one of Kaaba’s wall

The meteorite, known as the Black Stone of Mecca, is considered to be holy by Muslims. According to legend, this meteorite was given to the first son of God, Adam, after descending from heaven to earth.

Facts about Kaaba 10: It contains the place of where Prophet Muhammad prayed

Not only is the interior filled with fancy ornaments, but it also contains a specific area in which the last prophet of Islam used to pray – adding even more to the holiness of the shrine itself.

Black Stone

Those are the 10 facts of Kaaba that you should know. It is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sites on earth, and it will continue to attract billions of people everyday. Do you know any other facts about Kaaba we haven’t mentioned here?